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Cited by 48Environmental Justice and Health DisparitiesUrban Green Space and HealthUrban Planning and Governance

Examining ecological justice within the social-ecological-technological system of New York City, USA

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Pineda-Pinto, Melissa, Herreros-Cantis, Pablo, McPhearson, Timon, Frantzeskaki, Niki, Wang, Jing, Zhou, Weiqi·2021·Landscape and Urban Planning
DOI 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2021.104228
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Abstract

Examining justice in cities requires using analytical approaches that can unpack their complex nature and reveal the many interacting dimensions that affect justice patterns and processes. Although justice in cities has been examined extensively, it has primarily focused on social and environmental dimensions. However, justice is multi-dimensional, influenced and affected by multiple actors, dynamics, and processes. In this paper we propose the use of ecological justice, as justice of, to, and for nature as a critical lens for portraying a more integral understanding of urban injustices. This lens extends the notion of justice to nature through four dimensions: distribution of harmful impacts, recognition of nature, participation of nature, and the capabilities of social-ecological systems. Through a relational lens we develop a methodology that uses the social-ecological-technological system (SETS) conceptual framework to unpack how the dimensions and interactions affect ecological justice across urban landscapes. This methodology is operationalized into measurable variables and applied through a case study in New York City. A spatial analysis of indicators that act as SETS-Justice proxies at a Community District level, reveal high spatial variability of ecological justice hotspots when looking at each dimension independently. Identifying ecological justice hotspots can provide critical information for improving ecological justice through multiple means. For example, hotspots lacking in social-ecological recognition and participation of nature can inform context-specific solutions such as policies and projects that target community engagement, capacity building, and improve ecological knowledge. Additionally, a composite analysis of SETS-Justice through the aggregation of all indicators, reveals justice hotspots different to those commonly mapped in other justice-focused studies. This approach highlights the need to jointly address issues of environmental and ecological justice.

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  • Socioeconomic dimensions and context are underexamined in NbS research to date, and unappreciated in the role they play in the effective implementation of NbS.

    “Socioeconomic dimensions and context are underexamined in NbS research to date, and unappreciated in the role they play in the effective implementation of NbS (53, 111).”

    From Global synthesis and regional insights for mainstreaming urban nature-based solutions (2025) · cites this paper as [111]

    Section 2.1 says justice and equity are often blind spots in research applying the SETS framework. Section 5.4 recommends attending to local social-ecological context to tailor nature-based solutions. The paper does not establish the broader claim that socioeconomic dimensions are underexamined across NbS research or demonstrate their effect on implementation. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • Globally, NbS are largely implemented through efforts led by federal and local governments creating programs that invest in climate adaptation and urban biodiversity.

    “Globally, NbS are largely implemented through efforts led by federal and local governments creating programs that invest in climate adaptation and urban biodiversity (65, 96, 110, 111).”

    From Global synthesis and regional insights for mainstreaming urban nature-based solutions (2025) · cites this paper as [111]

    The case-study and Planning implications sections describe New York City and state programs involving green infrastructure, natural heritage, habitat, and climate impacts (pp. not available in our copy). They do not establish that NbS are largely government-led globally, or that federal and local governments generally invest in both climate adaptation and urban biodiversity; the Planning implications section notes that NYC’s strategy has little reference to biodiversity. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Authors
Pineda-Pinto, M., Herreros-Cantis, P., McPhearson, T., Frantzeskaki, N., Wang, J., & Zhou, W.
Affiliations
  • Swinburne University of Technology (AU)
  • The New School (US)
  • Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
ORCID
Venue
Landscape and Urban Planning
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-11
Volume
215
Pages
104228
ISSN
0169-2046 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.landurbplan.2021.104228
OpenAlex
W3195977190
Cited by
48
References
63
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 2
FWCI
8.31
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
Landscape and Urban Planning (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
National Science Foundation
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Environmental Justice and Health Disparities
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Urban Green Space and Health
  • Social Sciences › Urban Studies › Urban Planning and Governance
Keywords
ecological justice, urban justice, social-ecological-technological systems, New York City, environmental justice

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